Southampton. Arriving in France, he marched against Harfleur, which town, after a siege of six weeks, surrendered to him. (See Scene 5, Act II.) On October 25th, 1415, he fought the famous battle of Agincourt-achieving one of the most wonderful victories history has ever recorded. Hall informs us that the number of the French was estimated to be six times as many as that of the English. The loss of the English is estimated by various authorities, from seventeen to one hundred, while that of the French is stated by Monstrelet to have been full ten thousand. On November 23d, of the same year, King Henry returned to London. In August, 1417, he again crossed to France, and on the 20th day of May, 1420, the treaty of " perpetual peace 99 was entered into at Troyes, and Henry espoused to the Princess Katherine (see Scene 3, Act III.), whom he married on the second of the following June. The object of the arrangement and publication of this work is to place at the disposal of the theatrical profession, an entirely new and complete acting edition of the play, with a view to facilitate its future production, and enabling the actors to obtair a correct and perfect idea of its characters. For the foundation of the work I have adopted Mr. Charles Calvert's arrangement of the drama. I have, however, restored much of the original text, which in some instances had been injudiciously omitted, and also taken pains to correct the typographical and other errors which have found their way into most of the acting editions previously published. I sincerely trust that my object has been fully accomplished, and that the following work. may prove a valuable acquisition to the library of both manager and actor. CHARLES E. NEWTON. New York, May 6th, 1875. REMARKS. FOR many of the historical notes to this work, I am indebted to the careful research of Mr. Charles Calvert, and for the Notes on Heraldry, to Mr. Albert Derbyshire, by whom they were expressly arranged for Mr. Calvert's revival of Henry the Fifth, at the Princess' Theatre, London. As "it is an established fact that Shakespeare derived the plot of the play from Holinshed, whom he has closely followed, both as regard to incident and language, I have appended explanatory notes from that author wherever I thought them expedient. King Henry, at the time of his accession to the crown, is described as being "tall, and somewhat slim, with black hair, and closely shaven beard, keen dark eyes, and long, sinewy limbs, and a chest of great width and depth. His features were remarkably fine, his brow wide and expressive, and his forehead high, and the whole expression of his countenance noble and commanding." C. E. N. NOTES ON HERALDRY. THE ROYAL ARMS OF ENGLAND.-From the reign of Henry IV., till the accession of James VI., of Scotland, to the English throne, the royal shield and banner was blazoned France modern and England quarterly; much has been said in support of the theory that the shield hanging up with other relics in Westminster Abbey, belonging to Henry V., was the identical one used by the monarch at the battle of Agincourt; but the blazoning of this shield is so unlike any heraldry displayed by Henry, and so thoroughly French in character, the conclusion may be logically arrived at, that it is a mere trophy brought from that memorable field, a fact still further borne out by the statement of Elmham, a contemporary chronicler, who distinctly describes the king's heraldry as consisting of "three golden flowers planted in an azure field, and three golden leopards sporting in a ruby field." THE ROYAL ARMS OF FRANCE.-The Royal Shield and Binner, or Oriflamme, as used at the period of the action of the play, had a blue ground charged with three golden Fleurs-de-lis. This display of the royal heraldry of France is known to heraldic scholars as France modern, in contradistinction to France ancient, which consisted of a blue field sprinkled all over with golden Fleurs-de-lis. The change from France ancient to France modern was made by Charles V., about the middle of the fourteenth century. BADGES AND COLLARS.-Badges form a very interesting section of heraldic study and investigation; they are not to be confounded with, or mistaken for, charges on shields or banners; they are entirely distinct heraldic figures, having reference to incidents of historical or personal interest. The royal badges form a most interesting group; and all have reference to the varying fortunes of their princely owners. The planta genista, or sprig of broom, is well known in connection with the great house of Plantagenet; the red and white roses of York and Lancaster, and the feathers of the Prince of Wales, are all familiar to the student of history. The badges of Henry V., chosen for adoption in the revival of the play, are the Black Swan chained, the Red Rose of Lancaster, and a single Ostrich feather. The Black Swan of the De Bohuns was the favorite badge of both Henry and his father, Henry of Bolingbroke. The following quotation from Miss Strickland's "Lives of the Queens," will explain the reason for its adoption: "Henry the Fourth's first wife was Mary de Bohun, the co-heiress of the Earl of Hereford, Lord Constable of England. * * * *Her sister was married to Henry's uncle, Gloucester. ** *** She (Mary) died in the bloom of life, leaving six infants, namely, the renowned Henry V.; Thomas, Duke of Clarence; John, Duke of Bedford, Regent of France; and Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, Protector of England; Blanche, mairied to the Count Palatine; and Phillipa, to Eric, King of Denmark. was from Mary Bohun that Henry derived his title of Duke of Hereford." In addition to badges, the adherents of the two great rival houses wore collars, sometimes made of embroidered stuff, and often of metal wrought with all the cunning of the artistic goldsmith. The Yorkist collars were formed mostly of alternate suns and roses, and the Lancastrian of the letter "8" repeated, supposed to represent the word "Soveraygne," a motto of Henry the Fourth's. In the play, Henry wears this collar, having a pendant containing the Black Swan, with wings ex tended. * * * It THE ROYAL CROWN AND CIRCLET.-A radical change took place in the form and details of the royal diadem in the reign of Henry V. Prior to this period, the crown consisted of a mere circlet of metal, ornamented with strawberry leaves and pearls, as represented on coins and sepulchral monuments. In Henry's reign, this circlet was first arched over, and surmounted by the ball and cross; the strawberry leaves gave way to crosses, palees, and fleurs-de-lis. The circlet without the arches was worn by the heroic Henry, surmounting his steel cap, in warfare. MONTJOY, THE HERALD OF THE FRENCH.-" Montjoy," the name given to the principal herald of Charles VI., plays an important part in Shakespeare's Henry V., and would probably hold an office somewhat analagous to that of "Garter" amongst English heralds. In the early days of English heraldry, individual devices or bearings became so popular, and, consequently, so numerous, that it was absolutely necessary to arrange, classify, and chronicle them, so that a knight might be easily recognized by his bearings and heraldic insignia. Not only was this desirable in the actual din of battle, but in the more peaceful lists at home. When a champion entered equipped for the tournament, his name and style were given by the heralds, who called attention by a blast or flourish of trumpets; afterwards the persons who arranged and chronicled armorial bearings were called heralds. These heralds acted in a collegiate capacity in the reign of Henry V., incorporated by Royal Charter in the reign of Richard III., followed by another in that of Edward VI. They consist of three kings, six heralds, and four pursuivants, and constitute what is known in our time as the "College of Heralds." The art of describing shields of arms was designated "blazon," and at the close of the thirteenth century a distinct and recognized science was established, which has ever since been called heraldry. FLAGS AND BANNERS.-The banners displayed in Henry V. form a most interesting and decorative feature, and produce a rich and pleasing picture of the heraldry of the period. Boutell, in his admirable little work on "English Heraldry," divides the flags of medieval times into three sections, viz., The Pennon, Banner, and Standard. The Pennon was a swallow-tailed pendant from the lance-head of the knight whose personal ensign it was, charged with badges or other armorial devices. The banner was nearly square in form, and was charged with the Cote-armor of the bearer, and not with any other devices. The sails of ships were also emblazoned with Cote-armor, as shown in illuminations, seals and coins. The Standard was of large dimensions, and of considerable length, in proportion to its depth, and tapering towards its extremity. Pennons and standards were charged with the owner's family badges, etc, in addition to coats of arms. The following is a description of Henry's standard: "It had the Cross of St. George next the staff, and the fly was divided into red and white, the livery colors of the house of Lancaster-charged with the Bohun black swan, woodstocks, foxtails, and the Lancastrian red roses." HENRY THE FIFTH. ACT I. SCENE I.-Clouds. RUMOR, as CHORUS, discovered, C., on cloud bank. RUMOR. Oh! for a muse of fire, that would ascend The brightest heaven of invention ; A kingdom for a stage, princes to act, Leashed in like hounds, should famine, sword, and fire, And let us, ciphers to this great accompt, Suppose, within the girdle of these walls And make imaginary puissance; Think when we talk of horses, that you see them Admit me, Chorus, to this history; "Who, prologue-like, your humble patience pray, Gently to hear, kindly to judge, our play. (Music-Cloud drop slowly ascends-RUMOR descends on bank through trap, c.)† Those lines enclosed in quotation marks are usually omitted i the representation of the play. ↑ Both at the Princess' Theatre, London, and at Booth's, New York, a damask curtain was lowered after the delivery of the chorus, and then withdrawn, disclosing the scene following. I am, however, inclined to believe that those conversant with stage effect will agree that the disposal of the curtain is an improvement rather than the reverse.-ED. SCENE II.-The Throne Room in the Palace at Westminster. Throne C., at back. The DUKES OF BEDFORD* and GLOSTER,† R., Duke of ExETER, EARLS OF WARWICK, WESTMORELAND, and NOBLES, L. Enter KING HENRY, R. 2 E. KING HENRY. Where is my gracious lord of Canterbury? EXETER. Not here in presence. KING. Send for him, good uncle. WESTMORELAND. Shall we call in the ambassador, my liege? Before we hear him, of some things of weight That task our thoughts, concerning us and France. Enter the ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY¶ and BISHOP OF ELY,** with attendants, R. 2 E. CANTERBURY (R. c.). God and his angels guard your sacred throne, KING. Sure, we thank you Why the law Saliquett that they have in France, That you should fashion, rest, or bow your reading, We charge you, in the name of Heaven, take heed; Without much fall of blood; whose guiltless drops Are every one a woe, a sore complaint 'Gainst him whose wrongs give edge unto the swords That make such waste in brief mortality. *John, Duke of Bedford, was the third son of King Henry IV., and his brother, Henry V., left to him the Regency of France. He died in the year 1435. This duke was accounted one of the best generals of the royal race of Plantaganet. + Humphrey, Duke of Gloster, was the fourth son of King Henry IV., and on the death of his brother, Henry V., became Regent of England. It is generally supposed he was strangled. His death took place in the year 1446. + Thomas Beaufort, youngest natural son of John of Gaunt, by Catherine Swynford. He was in truth now only Earl of Dorset, not being created Duke of Exeter until 1416. $ Henry the V. of that name, and sone of Henry the IIII., began his reygne over this realme of Englande ye xxi day of the moneth of Marche ** *This man, before ye deth of his fader, applyed hym unto all vyce and insolency, and drewe unto hym all ryottours and wylde dysposed persones; but after he was admytted to the rule of the lande, anone and sodaynly he became a newe man, and tourned all that rage and wyldnes into sobernesse and wyse sadnesse, and the vyce into costant vertue.-Fabyan. (For description of King Henry's personal appearance, see Remarks.) He was Duke of Lancaster and Earl of Chester and Derby.-Tyler. Exeter was half-brother to King Henry IV., being one of the sons of John of Gaunt, by Catherine Swynford. ¶ Henry Chichely, a Carthusian monk, recently promoted to the see of Canterbury. **John Fordham, consecrated 1388; died, 1426. tt THE LAW SALIQUE.-According to this law no woman was permitted to govern or be a queen in her own right The title was only allowed to the wife of the monarch. This law was imported from Germany by the warlike Franks, Under this conjuration, speak, my lord! CANT. Then hear me, gracious sovereign; and you, peers, To make against your highness' claim to France, King Pepin, which deposed Childerick, Of Blithild, which was daughter of King Clothair, Go, my dread lord, to your great grandsire's tomb, * Display advantageously. |